Tallinn supports the sustainability and resilience of the event planning industry

Tallinn prides itself in having high level and professional PCOs, DMCs, event planning companies and the hospitality sector. To assist them in achieving even more long-lasting and sustainable results, the Tallinn Tourism Department offers support, compiles guidelines, and provides training. 

The department's goal is to help these companies stay up to date with current trends. It not only offers the expertise of industry professionals but also encourages knowledge-sharing among industry peers. As part of this commitment, we organized the "For a Greener Future" seminar at the end of 2023, focusing on sustainable event organization for leading local companies. 

Tallinn's Inherent Sustainability 

The event began with an introduction by Hele Lõhmus from the Tallinn Tourism Department, followed by a talk by Kadri Karu, the executive director of the Estonian Convention Bureau. Karu discussed trends in the event planning sector and emphasized that environmental sustainability has become a basic requirement. The new focus is on the social and community aspect – legacy. Karu highlighted Tallinn's natural sustainability as a walkable boutique location and stressed the companies' crucial role in preserving it. She also pointed out that there is still a need to deliver a message to the wider audience, that big meeting events such as conferences are not necessarily unsustainable. If you organize them thoughtfully, they can be wonderful places for meaningful interactions and networking that can save professionals many unnecessary flight miles. 

Facilitating Further Development 

Tallinn's status as a sustainable event destination is evident in its high GDS-Index scores, placing this small capital on the Baltic Sea ahead of most cities in Eastern and Western Europe and North America. Tallinn proudly held the title of European Green Capital in 2023, reflecting our ongoing commitment to sustainability – the mentality going forward can only be described as “once a Green Capital, always a Green Capital!” 

To further promote sustainability, Tallinn, as a pioneer of the green transition in Estonia, has compiled guidelines for environmentally friendly events. These guidelines are a requirement expected to be followed by all city departments and city-funded organizations. Many attendees were already familiar with this document, which covers the entire event planning process, helping to minimize environmental impact and ensure a positive experience for organizers and participants alike. Some guidelines will be integrated into lease contracts with venues holding Green Key certification. Tallinn encourages the use of these guidelines for organizing events elsewhere, as good practices should be shared. 

The Role of Catering in Green Events 

Following the discussion on broader topics, the seminar focused on key aspects of making events more sustainable, such as choosing the right catering. Tallinn and Estonia take pride in their seasonal, locally sourced cuisine, which combines heritage and Nordic influences. The events industry is increasingly incorporating local food and sustainability into creating the most enjoyable and sustainable experiences possible. Ken Tiivel from Põhjala Catering emphasized this during his talk, sharing insights from the Green Destinations Conference 2023. He discussed challenges in educating large numbers of staff, reducing food waste with the help of startups like FudLoop, and the growing eco-awareness among clients. 

Measuring Event Impact 

Participants also heard from René Channouf Jacobsen, the founder and executive director of Klimascore. This company assisted in assessing the carbon footprint of the conference mentioned. The resulting Climate Score of 9.5, close to the maximum 10 points, marked a significant achievement, even in the Nordics. This score sets a new standard for the hotel and meeting industry, describing guests' carbon footprints during hotel and conference stays. It helps guests and businesses choose environmentally friendly accommodations and enables hotels to prioritize eco-friendly initiatives, highlighting success stories based on factual data. 

The success stories continued with Visit Tallinn’s ambitious plan of inspiring the hospitality sector of Tallinn to add even more certified Green Key eco-label holders to the list of over 60 accommodation sites in Tallinn and Estonia. Estonia joined the label in 2001 and the awarding process is coordinated by the Estonian Tourist Board (Enterprise Estonia).  

Inspiration from Impact Day 

Merili Ginter, the founder and organizer of Impact Day, shared valuable tips from planning and executing the largest sustainable business festival in the Baltics. Her key message was clear: sincerity in sustainability efforts is essential, and greenwashing will be exposed. Impact Day follows the 5Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle) throughout the event planning phases. They prioritize the physical and mental well-being of the organizing team, ensuring they avoid overwork and sleep deprivation. Data-driven decision-making is central to their efforts, and Ginter assured colleagues that hiring a specialist to analyze impact does not have to break the budget, as many new providers are willing to take on the job. 

Support for Events by Visit Tallinn 

To conclude, Made Pandis-Raie from Visit Tallinn Convention Bureau reminded company representatives of the several ways Tallinn supports organizations planning events in our city. Additional information can be found in the professional section of the Visit Tallinn website. These measures include an international conference support grant, free public transportation for event delegates, Tallinn Card exclusive offer for international event delegates, and more. You can find the full list here. 

Let us get inspired and work together to make event planning in Tallinn not just sustainable but exceptional!